Windshield wiper system

Abstract

A windshield wiper system for a vehicle has a wiper arm and a wiper blade connected to one end of the wiper arm. The wiper arm is mounted on a wiper pivot mounted on the vehicle body near an edge of the windshield of the vehicle and adapted to be pivoted back and forth about the wiper pivot between a first position and a second position to swing the wiper blade between a first reverse position and a second reverse position on the windshield when wiping the windshield. The wiper arm is arranged to be further pivoted to swing the wiper blade beyond the first reverse position to a concealed position below the windshield and to be held there. The wiper arm has a first arm portion connected to the wiper pivot at one end, a second arm portion connected to the wiper blade at one end and to the other end of the first arm portion at the other end by way of a joint which permits change in the angle between the first and second arm portions, and a spring which urges the first and second arm portions into a predetermined angular relationship. A stopper member is provided on the vehicle body to abut against the second arm portion to prevent the second arm portion from following the first arm portion when the wiper arm is pivoted beyond the position corresponding to the concealed position of the wiper blade, thereby changing the angle between the first and second arm portions overcoming the force of the spring.

We claim: 
     
       1. A windshield wiper system for a vehicle comprising a wiper arm and a wiper blade connected to one end of the wiper arm, the wiper arm being mounted on a wiper pivot mounted on the vehicle body near an edge of the windshield of the vehicle and adapted to be pivoted back and forth about the wiper pivot between a first position and a second position to swing the wiper blade between a first reverse position and a second reverse position on the windshield when wiping the windshield, and the wiper arm being arranged to be further pivoted to swing the wiper blade beyond the first reverse position to a concealed position below the windshield and to be held there, characterized in that said wiper arm comprises a first arm portion connected to the wiper pivot at one end, a second arm portion connected to the wiper blade at one end and to the other end of the first arm portion at the other end by way of a joint means which permits change in the angle between the first and second arm portions, and an urging means which urges the first and second arm portions into a predetermined angular relationship, and a stopper member is provided on the vehicle body to abut against the second arm portion to prevent the second arm portion from following the first arm portion when the wiper arm is pivoted beyond the position corresponding to the concealed position of the wiper blade, thereby changing the angle between the first and second arm portions overcoming the force of the urging means.   
     
     
       2. A windshield wiper system as defined in claim 1 in which said urging means urges the first and second arm portions to be at an angle to each other when load on the second arm portion is lighter than a predetermined value. 
     
     
       3. A windshield wiper system as defined in claim 2 in which the angle between the first and second arm portions is selected so that the wiper blade extends substantially along the lower edge of the windshield when it is in the first reverse position. 
     
     
       4. A windshield wiper system as defined in claim 1 in which said urging means urges the first and second arm portions to be in line with each other when load on the second arm portion is lighter than a predetermined value. 
     
     
       5. A windshield wiper system as defined in claim 4 in which said wiper blade is connected to the second arm portion to extend substantially along the lower edge of the windshield when it is in the first reverse position. 
     
     
       6. A windshield wiper system as defined in claim 1 in which said second arm portion is pivoted on the first arm portion, and the first and second arm portions are respectively provided with engaging portions for mounting the urging means. 
     
     
       7. A windshield wiper system as defined in claim 1 in which the lower edge of said windshield rests on a rear part of the top of a cowl box provided above the dashboard lower panel which separates the engine room from the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the cowl box extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle and connected to the side walls of the engine room at respective ends, and said wiper pivot is mounted on the cowl box, said first reverse position and the concealed position of the wiper blade being near the lower edge of the windshield. 
     
     
       8. A windshield wiper system as defined in claim 7 in which said cowl box is open upward and an air intake portion for an air conditioner is provided in the cowl box near the concealed position of the wiper blade. 
     
     
       9. A windshield wiper system as defined in claim 8 in which said wiper pivot is driven by way of a link mechanism by a wiper driving means mounted on the dashboard lower panel, and is mounted on a bracket fixed to the cowl box near a windshield molding panel which covers the lower edge portion of the windshield, the wiper pivot being disposed substantially at the middle between the left and right sides of the vehicle. 
     
     
       10. A windshield wiper system as defined in claim 7 in which a hood hinge is disposed near the concealed position of the wiper blade.